The SPL have lifted the transfer embargo placed on Hearts - but the club are still subject to restrictions on who they can sign.

The SPL acted after Hearts players were paid on time on Wednesday but John McGlynn remains confined to signing players aged under 21.

An SPL statement read: "The board of the SPL has received information, including details of January salary payments to players and coaches, as a result of which it is satisfied that the recent remuneration default is no longer ongoing.

"Consequently, Heart of Midlothian is no longer subject to the registration embargo which results from any remuneration default.

"However, the decision of the SPL board sub-committee on 31 December 2012 that the club should be made subject to restrictions on the registration of players remains in place."

Hearts, who recently sold Ryan McGowan, can only sign under-21 players on a one in, one out basis and the player coming in must have a lower annual salary than the one departing.

The restrictions are due to stay in place until the end of the season, leaving McGlynn with the prospect of replacing McGowan, who signed for Chinese side Shandong Luneng, with younger players from within his squad.

Speaking before the decision came through, McGlynn said: "We have got four players in the Scotland Under-21 squad - Jason Holt, Dale Carrick, (Kevin) McHattie and David Smith.

"When you look at it like that, where are we going to get players under 21 who are going to walk into our first team?

"It's quite a restriction and obviously that's why it was set out. It's quite a limited area we have got to get players from.

"Ryan McGowan has gone already, if we lost players at the last minute of the transfer window we would find ourselves putting more younger players into the first team."

The transfer embargo automatically kicked in during September when players and coaches were paid several days late. Some payments were late in October and players deferred their November wages as the club raised money to meet a tax bill that threatened to close them down.

December wages were paid early but the registration embargo was extended due to a failure to pay bonus and appearance money, a sanction which prompted Hearts to consult their lawyers.

Meanwhile, McGlynn faces a selection headache for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Celtic Park with Ryan Stevenson and captain Marius Zaliukas suspended. Scott Robinson is out with the knock he suffered in the goalless draw against Hibernian on January 3 while fellow midfielder Mehdi Taouil is struggling with a foot injury.

"It will probably be one of the youngest Hearts teams that's ever been put out," McGlynn said.